About Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya

Formation

Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya (TDSPJ) was established and registered with the Malaysian Registrar of Societies in February, 1989 at the instructions of the Very Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche. At that time no one understood why Rinpoche wanted to start another Karma Kagyu center, when there was already in existence a Karma Kagyu Center in Kuala Lumpur which is not far from Petaling Jaya.

The Very Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche

There were many questions raised by the pro tem committee until Rinpoche told the committee that this was in fact the prediction by the 16th Karmapa that Rinpoche will have a center in Kuala Lumpur. The early days of TDSPJ was not an easy one, it faced many objections from other Karma Kagyu Centers mainly from the Kuala Lumpur center.

The relevance of the existence of TDSPJ came not long after its formation when the recognition of the 17th Karmapa became an International issue. Malaysia was not spared from this conflict and confusion was abound among the disciples. This issue was openly discussed in an Extra Ordinary General Meeting where views from all members were debated and considered. A vote was subsequently taken whereby it was unanimously passed that TDSPJ will only recognise His Holiness Urgen Thrinley Dorje as the one and only 17th Karmapa. This view is consonant with the view of Rinpoche, whereas the Kuala Lumpur center followed the person recognized by Sharmapa as their Karmapa.

With this problem in Malaysia, TDSPJ initiated the movement to unite all Karma Kargyu Centers in Malaysia. From this the United Karma Kagyu (Vajrayana) Federation (UKKF) was born, and now with 12 center members covering almost all the States in Malaysia. It was then quite apparent why Rinpoche instructed the formation of TDSPJ.

Special mention must be given the then President Mr. David Tong who had led the center from 1988 until his retirement in year 1999. David Tong led the center during its most difficult years. His post was taken over by his deputy Mr. John Fam who is currently the President. The running of the center is supported by a committee of 13 members.

A Brief History

Under the advice of their spiritual master, His Very Venerable The Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a group of Buddhists got together to form a Vajrayana centre in Petaling Jaya. That was more than twenty years ago. The group was confronted with some difficulties initially. Despite all the obstacles, they went ahead and succeeded in registering the Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya on 17th February 1989.

The Society was registered to encourage learning, researching and practising of Buddhism, to foster friendship among members, and to render charitable and welfare services to communities irrespective of religion and creed. The day-to-day affairs of the Society were to be managed by a Committee comprised of office bearers elected by members biennially.

At the Inaugural General Meeting, David Tong was unanimously elected the Founding President. The hard work of David and his committee members resulted in a rapid growth of membership. Soon, the Society had to move to a larger premise to accommodate the increasing numbers of active practitioners who gathered regularly for Pujas and other group practices.

Seeing the needs for proper guidance in Vajrayana practices, the Committee requested Thrangu Rinpoche to send a qualified Lama to the Society. This Lama would be given the responsibility to teach and guide members who wanted to follow the Vajrayana path. Lama Tashi (known to all members and friends here as Lama Lodro) was sent over in 1989. His presence has greatly enhanced the image of the Society.

For the first five years, the Society operated in rented premises. As the Society became more and more active, the Committee began to look into the possibility of the Society acquiring its own premises. With the support of its members and well-wishers, the Committee decided to raise funds for the purchase of a building. In 1993, a Grand Medicine Buddha Puja was organised and held at Wisma Buddhist Kuala Lumpur. Thrangu Rinpoche conducted the Puja with the assistance of more than ten of Rinpoche’s Lamas. The Puja was a great success and sufficient funds were raised to enable the Society to take over ownership of the building it now occupies at Section 12, Petaling Jaya.

Two more big Pujas were held to raise money for the purpose of renovating and upgrading the facilities in the premises. They were the Mani Rilbu Puja in 1994 and the Magnificent Amitabha Buddha Puja in 1996. Another fund-raising activity, known as The Image of Devotion held in 1995, succeeded in raising enough funds for the construction of a new shrine in the main hall of the Society premises. Other major pujas conducted by Thrangu Rinpoche were The White Jambhala, Tsitigarbha, Thousand Arms Thousand Eyes Chenrezig, Thousand Buddhas and Guan Gong.

The building of the Society, commonly referred to as Thrangu Centre, is a comfortable place for religious ceremonies, discourses, and group practices. Improvement is still required and it will be done one at a time whenever funds permit.

The Society is an active Dharma centre. Members of the Society are confident that with the blessing of His Holiness The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa and The Very Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche as well as the guidance of Venerable Lama Lodro, the Society will be able to reach greater heights in its Dharma work in this part of the world.

Regular Activities

The center resident monk is the Venerable Lama Lodro Taye (TashI) a Bhutanese. He is the resident monk of the center since 1989.

The center conducts regular activities under Lama Lodro guidance: -

Day

Time

Practice

Every Sunday

8.00am

10.00am

Ngondro (4 Foundations Practice)
Full Text

10.30am

11.45am

Green Tara

Every Wednesday

8.30pm

9.30pm

Medicine Buddha &
4 Arm Chenrezig

Every Friday

8.30pm

10.30pm

Ngondro (4 Foundations Practice)
Concise Text

On the 10th
of the lunar Calendar

8.30pm

10.30pm

Guru Rinpoche
(Kon Chok Chidu)

On the 15th
of the lunar Calendar

8.30pm

10.30pm

Amitabha / Dharma Generosity
Chanting for the Deceased

Every month

One day Retreat

The other yearly notable practice started by TDSPJ is the yearly Namo Buddha Retreat. The retreat is unique in that Rinpoche allows his disciples to go into short retreat taking the monastic robes and have their heads tonsured. TDSPJ has done 11 such retreat till date.

Dedicated to the impeccable perpetuation of the glorious Karma Kagyu lineage and to the success of its leaders and followers in
accomplishing their commitment to bring all sentient beings to the state of enlightened awareness.